Brian Ellison has reported Onesmoothoperator to be in good condition after his Melbourne Cup adventure – and is already contemplating a return trip to Australia.
The six-year-old gelding won last year’s November Handicap after it was switched to the all-weather at Newcastle following consistent rain at Doncaster and followed that up as Connor Beasley timed his run to perfection to win the Northumberland Plate there in June.
And after flying out to Australia, he showed his versatility with victory on turf in the valuable Geelong Cup in the hands of local jockey Craig Williams.
Williams was again in the saddle for the Melbourne Cup, when Onesmoothoperator met trouble in running before coming home 12th of 23, beaten five and three-quarter lengths.
Ellison said: “He’s grand. He’s good. He’s got a few cuts behind where he got into a bit of trouble in the race, but apart from that everything is fine.
“He’s had a great season; the November Handicap, the (Northumberland) Plate and the Geelong Cup – that was an amazing day.
“This year, he’s improved and kept on improving. I thought he was good for the (Melbourne) Cup but he didn’t get the best of runs, he was hampered a couple of times and got a bit too far back – but there will be one or two more in the race who will say the same thing.”
Onesmoothoperator will return to Britain next week and have a short break prior to heading out to Dubai for a winter campaign, before a decision is made on whether to launch another attempt on the Melbourne Cup.
Ellison added: “He’ll be back next Friday, go to Dubai in January and have a couple of runs out there and we’ll basically take it by ear and see what happens and he may go back out (for the Melbourne Cup) again next year.
“He probably will target the Plate next year but whether he’s too high or not, I don’t know. What did he run off last year – 93? The Australians rated him about 105, so we’ll see.
“The Plate would be a good step-up run though if he did go back out to Australia. It’s great that he’s won on grass. He did thrive when he was out there. He did really well. He’s never left anything, he’s really well.”
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Knight’s Choice claimed the Lexus Melbourne Cup gold as the European raiders failed to fire in the Flemington feature.
Britain and Ireland appeared to have a strong challenge for the two-mile contest with Harry Eustace’s Bendigo Cup winner Sea King and the Brian Ellison-trained Geelong Cup hero Onesmoothoperator joined by Willie Mullins’ pair of Vauban and Absurde, with all four towards the head of the betting.
None of them could land a blow though as Knight’s Choice and Japanese runner Warp Speed battled it out in the dying strides, with Irish jockey Robbie Dolan just prevailing on Knight’s Choice, who is trained in partnership by John Symons and Sheila Laxon.
Absurde fared best of the European quartet in fifth, improving on last year’s seventh place, while Vauban was 11th, Onesmoothoperator 12th and Sea King 14th of the 23 runners.
Dolan rode in Ireland for a couple of seasons before moving to Australia, where he hit the headlines off the track after featuring on TV series The Voice in 2022.
“Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming! It’s incredible, I can’t believe it,” he told Channel Nine.
“I’ve never ridden in this race before so I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I’ve ridden in it 10 times because I’ve ran the race in my head before I got here.
“It panned out exactly as I thought it would. I thought I’d be closer, but they went quick and I decided I ride him for luck as I know he’s got a good turn of foot.
“Sheila and John were so confident in this horse before he got to the race, a lot of people doubted him but I didn’t.”
Dolan’s father Bobby worked for Dermot Weld in Ireland and surprised his son by arriving in Australia ahead of the race.
The winning rider added: “I woke up Sunday morning and he was standing in my kitchen – I couldn’t believe it. Win, lose or draw, it was a great day for me but to win it with him here as well as my partner and daughter, I’m going to cry again!”
It was a second Melbourne Cup success for Laxon, who became the first woman to officially train the winner of the race when she saddled Ethereal to victory in 2001.
She said: “It’s fantastic, we’ve got some fabulous owners and had lots of help along the way from everyone at Macedon Lodge (training base) and people back home.
“The most special moment for me is my son John and daughter Lucy came over with their children, it’s just such an amazing experience to share it with them.”
Symons added: “This is the pinnacle of all pinnacles, we’ve just won the Melbourne Cup.”
What did we just witness?!
KNIGHT'S CHOICE holds on to win the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup!
Knight’s Choice was returned a huge outsider for the race with Warp Speed another longshot after he finished well down the field in the Caulfield Cup for trainer Noboru Takagi on his Australian bow.
Beaten just a short head, stable spokesman Kosi Kawakami told www.racing.com: “It was obviously a great run and we knew we could turn the form around, we were confident but at the same time, we just can never be sure in racing, but he proved that.
“We are very, very proud of him but at the same time, with that little margin, we just desperately wanted to win this race, the same as everyone else.”
Ex-Joseph O’Brien runner Okita Soushi was three-quarters of a length back in third for jockey Jamie Kah after racing prominently throughout.
She said: “Fantastic run. Couldn’t have asked for anything more from the horse. Got me a bit excited at the 200 (metre mark). I thought he was going to hang on, but he’s just a genuine one-pace horse, but couldn’t ask for anything more of him.”
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Harry Eustace believes Sea King has most to fear from his fellow European raiders as he goes for gold in Tuesday’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The 24-strong field features two runners from Britain in Sea King and Brian Ellison’s Onesmoothoperator, while the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Vauban and Absurde form the Irish challenge.
Eustace has a direct form reference with Onesmoothoperator as he finished a nose behind Sea King when the pair were sixth and seventh in the Ebor and the merit of Mullins’ runners is well known, with Vauban having finished second to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger last time out and Absurde a cosy Listed winner at Chester.
Absurde was seventh at Flemington last year when Vauban proved a bitter disappointment in 14th and neither has had an Australian prep run, unlike Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator and Eustace’s Bendigo Cup hero Sea King.
UK visitor Sea King destroys his rivals in the Bendigo Cup 👑
“I might be a little biased but I think the European raiders look to have massive chances. Onesmoothoperator won well at Geelong and our guy was obviously ahead of him in the Ebor,” Eustace told Grosvenor Sport.
“In the last few years of the Cup, it’s been all about the quality horses, and I’ve got a huge amount of respect for the Mullins horses, Vauban and Absurde. Vauban has been mixing it with the champion stayer Kyprios and Absurde is an Ebor winner who ran a blinder in this race last year.
“But look, it is a handicap at the end of the day, and this year, with the way it’s cutting up, there could be a surprise winner, and I suppose we’re just hoping it’s us.”
Sea King will be ridden for the first time by Hollie Doyle at Flemington, with the five-year-old drawn in stall one in what is his first attempt at two miles.
Hollie Doyle will get the leg up on Sea King (Mike Egerton/PA)
Eustace said: “We’ve been drawn in stall one, which on paper wouldn’t be the first berth you’d pick. However, given he was a little keen in the Bendigo Cup, it might just suit us to jump from stall one and allow Hollie (Doyle) to get covered up nicely and early. I’d much rather be drawn low than high, so we’re happy.
“I’m actually confident about the two-mile trip. Obviously, I want him to relax a bit better than he did in the Bendigo Cup, as he was a little keen in the blinkers that day, but he certainly wasn’t stopping at the line. I am considering changing his headgear, though, and putting a pair of cheekpieces on for the Cup instead of the blinkers.
“It’s very hard to change a winning formula, but would he get away with being as keen as he was on Wednesday in the Cup? I’m not sure, and I think the cheekpieces could actually work even better for him.”
Harry Eustace could join his brother as a Melbourne Cup-winning trainer (Mike Egerton/PA)
Sea King turns out six days after securing his place in the field at Bendigo and Eustace added: “The quick turnaround isn’t ideal, and it’s not the typical way you’d prep a horse for a big race. But it’s not the end of the world either, as Wednesday’s efforts might’ve just taken a bit of the freshness out of him so he can race more efficiently.”
Eustace took over the licence from his father James in 2021 and his brother David is also a trainer, forming a fruitful Australian partnership with Ciaron Maher which yielded Melbourne Cup glory with Gold Trip in 2022 before striking out on his own in Hong Kong this year.
His brother has been a source of advice for Eustace, who revealed his father has a little extra interest riding on the result.
He explained: “It’s great to have my parents down here for the race. Dad has always been a glass half-full kind of person and before Sea King had even won at Bendigo, he’d backed him at 100-1 to win the Melbourne Cup. He’s enjoying the ride and feeling very clever with himself at the moment.
“(I’ve had) plenty of opinions from David. He’s very much in favour of us keeping the blinkers on! But in all seriousness, it’s great to have someone like him to bounce ideas off, as he’s able to give us an outsider’s perspective and he knows what it takes to win the race.”
Sea King previously raced for Sir Mark Prescott, winning five of his 18 starts before being bought by a group led by OTI Racing and joining Eustace ahead of his Australian adventure.
Buckaroo is the ante-post favourite and is now trained by Chris Waller (Niall Carson/PA)
Eustace said: “Unsurprisingly Sir Mark has been a gent about it all. He wrote a letter to us where he very modestly played down his role in the horse’s career.
“Sir Mark’s been in the game a long time and knows that certain horses suit certain racing jurisdictions very well. Sea King was obviously a very good horse for him, and we’ve probably not done a whole lot different with him since he joined us.
“I can’t really take much credit for his immediate success anyway as Laura (Pike), who’s basically trained and ridden him since he’s been in quarantine, has done a huge job with him.”
Ex-Joseph O’Brien runner Buckaroo currently heads the Melbourne Cup betting for trainer Chris Waller, while former Aidan O’Brien runner Interpretation, Godolphin’s Zardozi and Land Legend, who raced in Britain for James Ferguson previously, head the home hopes.
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Hollie Doyle is set to partner Sea King in the Melbourne Cup after Harry Eustace’s gelding booked his spot in the Flemington showpiece by cruising to victory in the Bendigo Cup.
The five-year-old was making his debut for Eustace in the Group Three contest, having previously raced for Sir Mark Prescott in Britain, with his 18 starts encompassing five wins and a notable sixth in the Ebor last time out.
Subsequently purchased by OTI Racing and sent to Eustace, Sea King was well supported for the 12-furlong feature, with jockey Declan Bates riding with supreme confidence, allowing his mount to stride on round the field approaching the turn for home before pulling well clear in the straight.
Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, Eustace said: “We now can’t wait to run him in the (Melbourne) Cup, should we pass the vets’ scans.
“Obviously, the Ebor form looks strong, finishing ahead of Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator, and I think the two-mile trip should be fine.
“You’d have to think he’ll be competitive off the back of today’s win, so it’ll just be a case of whether he’s classy enough to go and win it.
“Declan Bates is unfortunately not able to do the weight in the Cup, so we’re lining Hollie Doyle up to take the ride, which would be a great booking.
“Based on his run today, if he can repeat that under Hollie, you’d like to think we’re going there with a live chance.”
Eustace and OTI Racing teamed up to finish fifth with Docklands in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and the trainer was delighted to see travelling companion Sea King sparkle on his Australian bow.
He added: “It was very exciting to see. We felt he’d really thrived in quarantine, but you never really know how well they are until they hit the track, so we were thrilled with how dominant he was in the end at Bendigo.
“It’s also a massive milestone for us as a team in winning our first Group race. It’s probably taken a little longer than we’d have liked, but to have achieved it in such an important race as we plot our way to the (Melbourne) Cup is huge.
“Any international winner is a big result too, especially in Australia at the moment as it’s becoming harder and harder to get horses running down here.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Terry (Henderson) and the team from OTI Racing. They took the plunge to buy him with this dream in mind and also to give us the confidence to send him down here alongside Docklands. Hopefully we can pull it off for them!”
Regarding the all-important medical examination, Eustace said: “Sea King will now undergo new CT scans on Thursday which will determine whether we’re allowed to run on Tuesday.
“He’s passed them before, and he’s not a younger horse like Jan Brueghel, so fingers crossed he’ll pass them, and we’ll be rocking and rolling on to the Cup.”
Impressive Cox Plate victor Via Sistina had been towards the head of the Melbourne Cup betting, but owners Yulong Investments have decided to bypass the Flemington highlight in favour of sticking at 10 furlongs for the Champions Stakes on Saturday week.
“We would desperately love to win a Melbourne Cup and we’ve probably got the best chance we’re ever going to have,” said Yulong’s general manager Vin Cox to Racing.com.
“But at the end of the day, the ultimate goal wasn’t the Melbourne Cup, it was the Cox Plate.
“The Melbourne Cup was then a bit of an afterthought, rather than the primary motivator – and afterthoughts tend not to end well on a racetrack.
“We all had to get our feet back on the ground, take all the emotion out of it and look at it analytically.”
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Harry Eustace described Sea King’s comfortable victory in Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup as an “absolute dream”, with the win ensuring the gelding’s place in the Melbourne Cup field.
The five-year-old was making his debut for Eustace in the Bendigo Group Three having previously raced for Sir Mark Prescott in Britain, with his 18 starts encompassing five wins and a notable sixth in the Ebor last time out.
Subsequently purchased by OTI Racing and sent to Eustace, Sea King was well supported for the 12-furlong contest, with jockey Declan Bates riding with supreme confidence, allowing Sea King to stride on round the field approaching the turn for home before pulling well clear in the straight.
Eustace and OTI Racing teamed up to finish fifth with Docklands in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and the trainer was delighted to see travelling companion Sea King sparkle on his Australian bow.
“It’s incredibly exciting. A lot was riding on it, it’s the last win-and-you’re-in (spot) for the Cup, so it’s an absolute dream result today,” Eustace told www.racing.com.
“I’d just like to thank (OTI’s) Terry (Henderson) in particular, he managed to buy this horse just before Docklands travelled down as well and it’s proving a pretty inspired purchase.
“Curiously, coming down, we never even thought we’d get close (to a Cup Spot) and, of course, since we’ve been here the Cup, as everyone is well aware, has really started cutting up, so the closer we got to getting in, the more pressure there was I suppose.”
Eustace also praised the winning jockey, adding: “It was just a beautiful ride from Dec Bates.
“We picked him because hopefully he’d understand the European style and it wouldn’t be a sit and sprint.
“It (the mid-race move) felt like it was quite a long way out, but I was very keen to impress on him that he was more of a typical European-type horse and he’s going to work his way into it.
“He took me at my word and it came off today.”
Impressive Cox Plate victor Via Sistina had been towards the head of the Melbourne Cup betting, but owner Yulong Investments has decided to bypass the two-mile Flemington highlight in favour of sticking at 10 furlongs for the Champions Stakes on Saturday week.
“We would desperately love to win a Melbourne Cup and we’ve probably got the best chance we’re ever going to have,” said Yulong’s general manager Vin Cox.
“But at the end of the day, the ultimate goal wasn’t the Melbourne Cup, it was the Cox Plate.
“The Melbourne Cup was then a bit of an afterthought, rather than the primary motivator and afterthoughts tend not to end well on a racetrack.
“We all had to get our feet back on the ground, take all the emotion out of it and look at it analytically.”
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An extremely disappointed Aidan O’Brien will reroute Jan Brueghel to the Hong Kong Vase after the St Leger winner was ruled out of the Melbourne Cup having failed a pre-race veterinary check in Australia.
The Galileo colt was the ante-post favourite to provide his trainer with a first victory in Tuesday’s Flemington showpiece, having extended his unbeaten record to four in last month’s Betfred-sponsored Doncaster Classic.
But the three-year-old’s participation has been scuppered following a routine veterinary inspection that has become mandatory for all entrants.
O’Brien was in California on Tuesday morning to see his Breeders’ Cup contenders, including Classic contender City Of Troy, get a taste of the track at Del Mar for the first time and was clearly unhappy with Racing Victoria’s decision.
Colossal performance! Jan Brueghel battles to glory in the @Betfred St Leger Stakes! 🔥
“Everything was perfect with him, he went through all the hoops and scans. Our vets were happy, but the Australian vets were not happy with them,” said the Ballydoyle handler.
“It’s easy to say now, but we thought he was a massive handicap blot as a classy, unbeaten horse with 8st 7lb to carry and Ryan Moore riding him.
“We will go for the race in Hong Kong now. Most scans are open to opinion, they gave him another in the last few days and found a shadow on the hind leg, but with all horses you can get shadows.
“Everything was properly done with the horse and it’s all getting a little bit ridiculous.”
All smiles for the Coolmore team at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)
A statement from Racing Victoria said: “Racing Victoria stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn Jan Brueghel from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington next Tuesday, November 5.
“In accordance with the conditions of the race, Jan Brueghel was presented at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Saturday, October 26 for compulsory CT scans of its distal limbs.
“Reports received from an expert panel of internationally renowned equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists, who reviewed Jan Brueghel’s CT scan results, indicate that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.
“Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the independent imaging panel, RV Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Jan Brueghel from the Melbourne Cup on the basis that he was unsuitable to compete.”
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Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after failing a pre-race veterinary check.
The three-year-old, who is the reigning St Leger hero, had travelled to Australia in a bid to give the trainer his first success in the race.
However, those plans have now been scuppered as the colt cannot partake following the routine veterinary inspection that has become mandatory for all entrants.
A statement from Racing Victoria said: “Racing Victoria Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn Jan Brueghel from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington next Tuesday, 5 November.
“In accordance with the conditions of the race, Jan Brueghel was presented at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Saturday, 26 October for compulsory CT scans of its distal limbs.
“Reports received from an expert panel of internationally renowned equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists, who reviewed Jan Brueghel’s CT scan results, indicate that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.
“Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the independent imaging panel, RV Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Jan Brueghel from the Melbourne Cup on the basis that he was unsuitable to compete.”
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Brian Ellison’s Northumberland Plate hero Onesmoothoperator bids to confirm his place in the Melbourne Cup when he lines up in the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup on Wednesday.
The six-year-old brought the house down at Newcastle in June when providing proud Geordie Ellison with a previously elusive victory in the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’, since when he has finished seventh in the Ebor at York and fourth behind star mare Kalpana in the September Stakes at Kempton.
Ellison reports his stable star to have settled in well to his new surroundings in Melbourne and he currently sits 32nd in the order of entry for the big one on November 5, with a maximum field of 24 set to go to post at Flemington.
🍽️ Onesmoothoperator wins the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate! 🍽️
Onesmoothoperator is therefore not yet guaranteed a starting berth in the famous race, but has the opportunity to book his ticket at Geelong.
“He’s working on all the time and obviously it’s different training because he’s working on a round, flat track, but I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Ellison.
“He’s eating well and doing well and gets vetted every week and has passed them all. He got scanned last week and passed that and vetted again this (Tuesday) morning and passed that.
“We think he has to finish in the first two or three tomorrow to guarantee himself a run (in the Melbourne Cup). We’ve had a bit of rain and thunder and lightning and last weekend the ground would have been soft, but they tell me it’s going to be nice ground tomorrow.
“I just hope they go a nice gallop that’s all.”
Trainer Brian Ellison at York (Mike Egerton/PA)
While Ellison is confident of a bold showing in Geelong, the Malton-based trainer believes there is room for progress in the fitness department.
He added: “I do think he’ll improve a lot from the run. Even though we’re hoping he’ll run well and is fit enough to win if he’s going to win, I think he’ll improve for it.
“The owners are here, it’s the first time they’ve been out and they’re enjoying it, so fingers crossed for a bit of luck in running and hopefully the horse performs well.”
His rivals include Vow And Declare, the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner and the former James Ferguson-trained duo of Francesco Guardi and El Bodegon.
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Patrick Mullins has urged punters not to forget Absurde in the Melbourne Cup, despite Vauban appearing to be the stable first string.
Absurde has had a far from traditional campaign since finishing seventh, beaten just over five lengths, in Flemington 12 months ago.
He had three runs over hurdles, culminating in a thrilling success in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, before a wide-margin defeat in the Irish St Leger Trial. However, he got back to winning ways in style in Listed company at Chester.
Vauban, on the other hand, has been mixing with the best and was a fine second to Kyprios last time out having also won the Lonsdale Cup.
“To get two of them back there is fantastic – last year it didn’t work out. We made our tactics before the race and it didn’t work out,” Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie, told Sporting Life.com.
“As it turned out, we were using the wrong tactics because all of the horses in the first six were in the second half of the field and our two were in the first half and that’s just how it happened on the day.
“Vauban didn’t handle the really hot weather on the day well either. We’re changing things around, and sending him out a bit later this time around. He would have gone down a lot earlier last year.
“They’re both going there in good form with good runs lately and I think we should just draw a line under last year. I don’t think it means they can’t win it and I think we’ll change our tactics. We’ll certainly change our preparation, and we will go again.”
He went on: “Definitely (there’s unfinished business), we know Vauban is better than that, so we draw a line through that.
“Absurde last year really caught my eye. Of all the horses who raced in the first half of the field, he was one who went the closest. I think we’ll ride him a little bit differently this year as he’s a horse who’s a little bit more bred for the race than Vauban.
“He’s more of a Flat type, and a good ground Flat type as well. I know all the hype is around Vauban, but I wouldn’t forget Absurde, I thought his performance last year was eyecatching.”
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Royal Ascot hero and leading Melbourne Cup contender Crystal Black has been ruled out of a trip to Australia after suffering a setback.
The six-year-old has won each of his four starts this season for the father-son combination of Ger and Colin Keane, sparking scenes of wild celebration in the Ascot winner’s enclosure in landing the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in June.
Having since progressed to Pattern company with a dominant Group Three success in Leopardstown’s Ballyroan Stakes, the six-year-old was all set to head to Flemington with leading claims, but he was not among the initial nominations and his trainer has revealed he will sit out the rest of 2024.
“He’s had a bit of a setback and is going to go on his winter break,” said Keane.
“It’s nothing serious, but you have to go by him and he wouldn’t ready for it (Melbourne Cup).
“He got a viral infection and his bloods were very low and he wasn’t himself. You’d have to be pushing him to run in it, so it wouldn’t be the right thing to do and it wouldn’t be fair on the horse.
“It’s only a minor setback, so we’ll put him away for the winter and see where we go next year.”
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Vauban and Absurde once again head the European contenders for the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 5.
The Willie Mullins-trained pair contested the two-mile Group One last year, with Vauban sent off favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore only to disappoint on the day, coming home 14th of the 23 runners while Absurde was a creditable seventh.
Vauban booked his ticket for this year’s renewal with victory in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month, while Absurde triumphed in the Listed Chester Stakes over the weekend. Mullins also has a third entry in Hipop De Loire, who finished fifth in the Ebor.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Magical Zoe gained an automatic Melbourne place when winning the Ebor and she is also part of a potentially strong Irish challenge that also features Aidan O’Brien’s team of Grosvenor Square, Illinois, Jan Brueghel, Point Lonsdale, The Equator and The Euphrates.
There were no British-trained runners last year but Brian Ellison’s Northumberland Plate hero Onesmoothoperator and Arrest for the John and Thady Gosden team are entered up this time.
Andrew Balding also has two possibles in Night Sparkle and Relentless Voyager, while Jean-Claude Rouget has entered Delius.
Ex-British runner Without A Fight triumphed last year for Anthony and Sam Freedman and he features among the 123 initial nominations.
Some other familiar names on the list include Poptronic, who is now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after winning on Champions Day for Karl Burke last year, Place Du Carrousel, 2020 Derby winner Serpentine and Middle Earth, who was a Group Three winner for the Gosdens earlier in the season but will represent Ciaron Maher.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/276191588-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-09-03 08:34:112024-09-03 08:34:11Vauban set for second shot at Melbourne Cup
Crystal Black swept from last to first to continue his tremendous progression with victory in the Xin Gin Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Trained by Ger Keane and ridden by his champion jockey son, Colin, the six-year-old – who started his winning streak off a mark of just 77 – landed the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and has now added a Group Three prize to his burgeoning CV.
Keane eased the 11-10 favourite down the outside in the mile-and-a-half feature, readily picking up market rival The Euphrates and going clear for a five-length success over Aidan O’Brien’s runner.
In doing so, Crystal Black kept dreams of the Melbourne Cup very much alive, possibly with a new ownership interest.
Keane senior said: “There is a bit of interest from Australia in him and there are negotiations going on that he might go for the Melbourne Cup. The lads want to hold on to half of him, but we’ll know more in the next few days.
“If he was in the first three today that deal was on the table.”
He added: “It’s a kind of a fairytale really. He just keeps improving and improving.
“He had issues when we got him first with allergies and this year has just been amazing. You are always afraid that you are one run away from going over the top.”
O’Brien’s Ylang Ylang failed to make an impression behind Mutasarref in the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes.
Sent off the 11-8 favourite for the Oaks at Epsom, she finished only sixth and picked up a problem which had kept her off the track since.
O’Brien had warned she would not be fully tune up and so it proved, with Ger Lyons’ six-year-old Mutasarref winning for the ninth time.
Lyons said: “He’s some horse and you don’t expect him to be winning with the penalties. He’s a nice horse around a bend.
“We were a bit disappointed with him at the Curragh, but I don’t think he’s ever run his best at the Curragh in a straight.
“His plan is to come back here for the Group Two on Champions Weekend, which is beyond him as we know, but it’s another day out.”
Amo Racing’s expensive purchase Hill Road made the perfect start to his career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.
Kia Joorabchian’s operation paid $350,000 for the son of Quality Road and while he has some way to go to repay that sum, his entry in the Group One Vincent O’Brien National Stakes does not look fanciful after this five-length success under David Egan.
Trainer Adrian Murray said: “We’ve always held this lad in good regard.
“We had him ready early in the year and he won a barrier trial in Naas.
“We backed off him as we wanted to give him time to strengthen up and to mature and he’s all there now.
“We’ll probably come back here for the Group Two over a mile on Champions Weekend.
“He’s a very laid-back horse and takes a bit of revving up. It’s a good sign in a horse.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/276600939-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-08-08 17:54:542024-08-08 17:54:54Crystal Black firmly in Melbourne Cup picture after Ballyroan triumph
Leading Royal Ascot contender A Piece Of Heaven will be having his first start for new connections when he runs next week.
The six-year-old had been the flag bearer of Barry Fitzgerald’s yard but he has subsequently been bought by Jack Cantillon of Syndicates Racing to be sent into training with Joseph O’Brien.
His new owners are targeting the Copper Horse Handicap won by Vauban last season before a potential crack at the Melbourne Cup.
“I think what this horse did at Leopardstown was really underestimated. He was off a mark of 94 and the handicapper gave him 7lb,” Cantillon told www.thorougbreddailynews.com.
BREAKING: Delighted to have bought leading Royal Ascot contender A Piece of Heaven for syndication ‼️pic.twitter.com/08zeg0BqTi
“We looked at his stride and sectional analytics and both metrics pointed to a top-class performance being posted. Not only did he put in the performance, but he also vetted extremely well.
“If he can continue on his upward trajectory, he’s a horse with the profile and lack of miles on the clock to be a Melbourne Cup contender.
“A Piece Of Heaven has been sent to one of Ireland’s greatest trainers and a brilliant man to travel a horse in Joseph O’Brien but I think Barry deserves huge credit by how well he has campaigned him thus far.
“If the horse can achieve more in 2024 and beyond, which I think he can, I’d really like Barry to get the credit that he deserves for what a brilliant job he has done in nurturing this horse’s talents.”
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Middle Earth came with a sustained late charge to take the Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes at Newbury.
John and Thady Gosden’s well-regarded colt broke steadily from the stalls and was ridden patiently by Oisin Murphy, settling into a space on the far rail having started at 100-30.
The lead changed hands a few times in the home straight, although the King and Queen’s even-money favourite Desert Hero never looked a threat, as King Of Conquest seemed poised to strike.
Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old had broken clear of the field in the Group Three contest, but it was Middle Earth who was gaining momentum on the inside and he surged home to score with just a nose between him and the Godolphin-trained runner-up.
Middle Earth has Melbourne Cup aspirations but may have further big business on home soil to take care of after his win in the Aston Park Stakes. A cute ride up the rail from @oismurphypic.twitter.com/C6nTH14Clw
“That was good, the jockey saved every inch and he needed every inch,” said John Gosden.
“He won well in the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot (in October) and he’s a grand horse.
“The horse will come on for that, because it wasn’t strongly run for a horse coming from last. He’s like his father (Roaring Lion), he likes good ground, good to firm and firm. He’s not a lover of soft ground.
“He was slow out the gates, he usually is, but he was slower than ever and there was no pace until old Cemhaan tried to put a bit of pace in it.
“He did well to win off that pace, but Oisin was clever sneaking up the rail and when you are winning by a nose you need to sneak up the rail.”
Middle Earth with Oisin Murphy (Steven Paston/PA)
Middle Earth – whose only below-par effort last year was in the St Leger – now appears set to march on towards Royal Ascot for an outing in the Hardwicke Stakes, but with Australian handler Ciaron Maher holding an interest, a trip to Australia is inevitable in the autumn.
“He’s entered in the Hardwicke and we will have to check. Ciaron Maher owns the other half in Australia so we will chat with them and see what the game plan will be, but that seems the place he is likely to go,” continued Gosden.
“The plan is to go down to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. We’ll probably run him a couple or more times here, we’ll not overrace him and then go down there.
“He hated the ground in the St Leger last year, it was too loose and he does not like it. So if they get one of those downpours in Melbourne we may as well all stay in the hotel.”
Desert Hero was fifth eventually, with rider Tom Marquand saying of his run: “He ended up sitting a bit closer than he normally does off the slower pace, but whether that race at Sandown (last month) took a bit out of him, I’m not sure.
“He is certainly better suited when there is a stronger gallop on and it was not the worst run ever, but it was certainly not up to some of his best form.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/276218672-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-05-18 13:04:472024-05-18 14:40:13Middle Earth makes most of Aston Park opportunity
Vauban’s big aim is a return to Australia for the Melbourne Cup but Willie Mullins has not definitively ruled out an appearance at the Punchestown Festival.
The Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned six-year-old has not been seen since finishing only 14th of 23 when sent off favourite for last year’s Melbourne Cup.
He has not run over hurdles since chasing home stable companion and current champion hurdler State Man at last season’s Punchestown Festival, after which his attentions were switched to the Flat.
He won the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot, beating another stablemate in Absurde, who won the County Hurdle last week, and then had little trouble in winning the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes before his trip to Australia.
“Yes (he’s likely to have a Flat campaign), I think that’s more or less the plan,” said Mullins.
“He might get a run in Punchestown if he’s ready but I think I’m going to concentrate on getting him back to Melbourne in ship shape and have another crack at the Melbourne Cup in November.”
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